Transformers script review

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=573

Exclusive: A Look At Transformers!
Date: May 17, 2006

By: Kellvin Chavez
Source: El Mayimbe (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/)


Fresh on the heels of the recent news that Michael Bay bought Digital Domain, yes folks, El Mayimbe brought us here at Latinoreview the Exclusive script review for "Transformers: The Movie," (http://latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=25) or at least one of the drafts!
http://latinoreview.com/films_2007/transformers/1a.jpg (http://latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=25)

In 1984, the Transformers brand took the world by storm with its compelling saga of the "Robots in Disguise," and quickly became a childhood rite of passage with a tremendously successful toy line from Hasbro and Takara, comic book (http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=573#) series, television program and animated feature film. Twenty years later, a new generation of kids has discovered the excitement of the Transformers brand and the legendary characters, such as Optimus Prime and Megatron, that truly are "more than meets the eye." Today, the franchise features a popular toy line, an animated series on Cartoon Network and a chart-topping comic book series from Dreamwave Productions, which sold two million Transformers comic books last year.

[Hunter Rider]

Rating:A+
http://latinoreview.com/img/spacer.gif

A Complete Miracle

Yo! El Mayimbe here! Fresh on the heels of the recent news that Michael Bay bought Digital Domain, yes folks, we here at Latinoreview got ourselves the Transformer’s script, or at least one of the drafts! So far, the online coverage Transformers (http://latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=25#) has gotten has been pretty good and I want to shout my fellow online collaborators…Robert over at IESB.net for his video interview of Tom DeSanto (http://iesb.net/dreamworks2006/050306.php), my man Stax over at IGN/Filmforce (http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/704/704592p1.html) for his casting scoops and last but not least Quint of Ain’t it Cool News (http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23105) for his awesome interview at Michael Bay’s office last month. Their work has only wetted the appetite (it certainly has mine) for more Transformers news. Now I hope I can do my part and offer my contribution.
I’m a kid of the eighties and a diehard transformers fan. I’m 32 pushing 33 and Transformers was the **** around this time 20 years ago. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the animated Transformer movie that was released theatrically 20 years ago this August. Me and a bunch of buddies from Mike’s Comic Hut in Queens, NY went to the Quartet movie theater on Northern Blvd and sat in the theater that Friday afternoon at the matinee and stayed the whole day and saw it 3 times. Wow! It’s been 20 years man, how time flies. Growing up in the eighties was an awesome time for a kid, especially when it came to cartoons, and toys. We had Transformers, GI JOE, Voltron, and Thundercats. I remember it like yesterday. My Christmas gift of 1984 was the 1st generation Megatron, which I kept and eventually sold on eBay (which I now regret) for a tidy profit. I have the entire animated series run (on bootleg of course, also available from collector to collector on eBay), the DVD releases of the first 3 seasons, the entire marvel comics (http://latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=25#) run bagged and boarded in storage, and the recent comic revival by the good and talented folks over at Dreamwave Studios. So I don’t want to hear ****, I’m a Transformers fan. I clearly remember telling my boy in the theater wouldn’t it be cool to see a live action real Transformers “movie.” That time is now upon us. My goodness.
Unfortunately now I have to address the haters out there who think I get fake scripts, leaked scripts or fan scripts. I have been doing script reviews now for almost two years for the site. It is all I do. I don’t do junkets, I don’t do set visits, I don’t interview anybody; I review scripts…pure and simple. Sometimes I’ll review a flick for Kellvin but for the most part I review scripts because the story starts with the writer. I have access to screenplays here in Los Angeles and my track record on the site speaks for itself. Look at the scripts I have given an advanced look at and look how my script reviews have come pretty much close if not dead on to the final film. Yes, a script changes as it reaches production, beats might change here and there but the structure and the story usually remains the same. If anyone is gonna get their hands on the script for the Transformers movie (http://latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=25#), it’s gonna be me. I give the upmost priority to the toy related properties of my youth like this and GI JOE and folks who read my reviews know I always get my hands on the real deal. That being said let’s talk about Michael Bay.
I’m a huge fan. Transformers is the movie I think he was born to do. Transformers is about spectacle and robots duking it out on the screen, Bay is the man at spectacle and I love the way he moves and dollies his camera. Bay is the king of coverage and is perfect for his film (http://latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=25#). There is rarely a static shot in his movies and that is fine with me. I absolutely loved “The Rock,” “Armageddon” (have both the criterion collection dvds of those two) “Bad Boys 1 and 2.” I even enjoyed his so-called flop “The Island.” Yes, he is a talkback whipping boy and unfairly so, but I love the guy and will always see his films. He is what popcorn cinema is about and I absolutely love the visual language of his films, the richness of his color palette, his camera moves, the whole nine. So as a hardcore Transformers fan, I’m telling my fellow fans to let the man do his thing. We’re in good hands.
The film got the right behind people behind it creatively also, mainly film titan Spielberg and uber cool producers Don Murphy (holla!) and Tom DeSanto. All the creative forces behind it, I don’t think the film is going to come out whack whatsoever…too many people care about the integrity of Transformers.
Before I get into the review, I am so in favor of Cullen and Welker reprising their roles as the voices of Optimus Prime and Megatron. Their voices made these characters and it would feel a bit odd if the flick didn’t have the familiarity of their voices. But I understand where Bay is coming from if in 20 years of age they don’t sound like that anymore. If they do still sound like Optimus and Megatron, hands down give them the job!
Another point I want to bring up is that the fans have to be liberal and let the filmmakers contemporize the story to some degree. For example, Laserbeak, an old Decepticon favorite of mine would be outdated if he were around today simply for the fact that cassette tapes really don’t exist anymore. Get it?
Since we are talking about characters now, the burning question is who is in it?
On the Autobot end, the leader OPTIIMUS PRIME, his first lieutenant JAZZ (exotic car), IRONHIDE (the pickup truck) the weapons specialist forged in the Tri-Peninsular Torus states of Praxus, RATCHET (the ambulance) the medical officer, emissary to the High Council of ancients and last but not least BUMBLEBEE (camaro). Bay himself said on his site that the names will be changed other than the main few. That mainly applies to the Decepticons I think because in the script the Autobots, refer to each other in dialogue as the above names. These are the main and only Autobots. In the script we are told the Autobot names have been selected to approximate their behavioral temperaments.
Now the Decepticons. The names could change if the names in the script are aliases as Bay alleges, but you can’t change the character descriptions in the script of what they are. So I am going by what is currently written in this draft and the names or so called aliases given. Me personally, I don’t know why there is such a big stink over the names. So what?! I think it is a bad idea to change the names. Anyways the Decepticons, of course there is MEGATRON, then there is the latest F-22 RAPTOR (BAD ASS!) tentatively titled STARSCREAM, an M-1 ABRAMS TANK tentatively titled DEVASTATOR, a MINE CLEARING VEHICLE tentatively titled BONECRUSHER, an MH-53 PAV SPECIAL OPS CHOPPER tentatively titled VORTEX, a POLICE CAR tentatively titled BRAWL, the MECHANICAL SCORPION Quint saw at Bay’s offices tentatively titled SKORPONOK, and my favorite little decepticon – a BOOMBOX that transforms into the 4 ½ foot SOUNDWAVE. The only Decepticon mentioned by name in this draft by Megatron is Starscream. If I were a betting man, I would bet the house that Starscream would still be Starscream when the film comes out. The names might change, but I would also bet the house that the Decepticon vehicles remain the same as currently written and as I described above because they play into the story as currently written.
So what is the story about?
I guessed it pretty much way before I ever got the script. It is quite simple actually. What was the original Television series about? What were both the Decpticons and Autobots after that was depleted on their home planet of Cybertron?
The Energon Cube. A supreme power that imbues the Transformers with the gift of “spark” – the life force within all the Transformers.
So in a nutshell, Optimus Prime and the Autobots have to find the Energon Cube on Earth before Megatron and the Decepticons do. That is what the Transformer Movie coming next year in 2007 is simply all about. The Autobots and the Decepticons each have their reasons for finding the Energon cube, but I won’t spoil it here. Just know that is what the script is about.
Ok, so what is the verdict? Is it whack? Is it good?
As a diehard transformers fan, I reads this script objectively TWICE. Last night and today.
THE SCRIPT ROCKS! Utter adulation! The story is dope! I heard some minor rumblings around town how the script is whack – complete bull****! The haters can kiss my ass. I loved it and it gets my blessing! I had such fanboy glee reading it that I will geek out and read it yet again this weekend. What a pleasure. Folks, BELIEVE THE HYPE! Transformers next summer will own you!
I catch a lot of flack from readers because I get complaints that I love everything I read. That is not necessarily true. I only write script reviews about what I like! I rarely write about whack screenplays and trust me I read plenty. If the script is good, I’m gonna sing the writer’s praises. If the script is whack, I rarely won’t say anything about it. Let someone else do it. That is why I got the rep I have because I stay positive with my reviews. If there is a big summer movie that I have NOT written a script review for -- 9 out of 10 times is because it is whack!
That is why I am giving this script the highest grade we can give here at Latinoreview. This script gets an A+ (a complete miracle)! You see, I have waited 20 years for this live action film and the story works for today’s audience and yesterday’s fans like myself. Just think about that for a second folks, a live action Transformers film is coming at us. Having the pleasure of reading this script made me feel like that 13-year old teenager again sitting in the Quartet movie theater on Northern Blvd. Reading this took me back there to my wonderful memories as a kid. I miss being a kid, I honestly do, I had a wonderful childhood and Transformers was a part of that. The recent Transformers animation on Youtube and the old one of that dodge neon transforming were pretty cool and that was made on a home pc, now imagine what eye candy the pros at Digital Domain are going to bring us next year. Either you were a transformers fan back in the day or you were a hater, which liked those week cartoons like the transformers rip-off GOBOTS or the other GI JOE rip-off MASK.
I read half of the very first draft of John Rodgers delivered in Jan 2005, I couldn’t finish the other half, my source had to give the script back and hence why I couldn’t do a script review on it like I wanted last year. I knew that I would get the script again eventually. The script and its development have progressed quite nicely. This current draft is up to snuff; it’s organic, nothing coincidental, the structure sound, and the action PLENTY! Especially the robot on robot action and the military on robot action. My goodness I can’t wait to see this translated to the screen. What Quint of AICN saw in the animatics is all here on the page. This draft is a lean 111 pages. Another thing about the script is how unexpectedly funny and witty it is! This thing is gonna get the right laughs in the right places. Certain parts of it had me rolling.
So out of respect to the filmmaking team on Transformers, I’m only going take a quick peek at the 1st 10 pages and keep the spoilers as lite as possible. I will just paint the broadstrokes.
The script opens 1 million years before the dawn of man with the energon cube hurtling through space on it’s path towards Earth. A narrator tells us that the ravages of war destroyed Cybertron, a war raged between the legions who worship chaos and those who follow freedom. They battled for a supreme power, the Energon Cube. It’s origin unknown yet it bears the life-force that created the transformer race. They fought until their world was awash in death until the very ground swallowed whole their once mighty cities and the cube was lost to the limitless stars. Then by fortune or fate, its course was altered, drawn to a planet called Earth. They have searched for the cube across desserts of time, hoping to find it before the dark legions, but as fate would have it, they were already too late.
We are then in the artic circle in 1897 on a national Antarctic expedition and focus on a derelict sailing vessel trapped in ice. The crew works desperately to free the ship. The dogs bark, there is something in the ice. The captain, two men and the dogs go out over the artic shelf and look at whatever is buried under the ice. A huge rift opens, one of the dogs and the captain falls into a 30ft fissure. We pull back and see the captain standing on the palm of a giant steel hand, half in and half out of the ice. A mechanized face is embedded within the ice wall, expression frozen in a scream. The Captain wipes away ice to reveal symbol on the mechanoid – the Decepticon emblem. The captain takes a pick axe and stars chopping away at the ice to take a better look, activates something on the robot’s chasis and something happens.
Next we are in present day Qatar, the Middle East as two air force cv-22 ospreys skim the dunes. Piloting the two planes, we meet SERGEANT WILLIAM LENNOX US AIR FORCE COMBAT CONTROLLER, and ARMY CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER JORGE FIGUEROA “FIG”, Dominican by way of the Louisiana Bayou who sings along to Reggaeton on the stereo. Holy cow! A Dominican like myself as one of the good guys! This is the Amaury Nolasco character and not the Michael Clarke Duncan character. My only gripe is that Dominicans don’t hail from the bayou. I have neither Dominican friends nor relatives and they have no Dominican friends or relatives who hail from the bayou. Any of you out there? Let me know. I am certainly a displaced Dominican here in Los Angeles so it would be a first if there were other displaced Dominicans in the bayou. Fig, like any food loving Latino, talks about pasteles and spiced adobo pork in this scene with Lennox and it makes me wonder if the writer Roberto Orci is Latino. But props to the writers for making the Latino character a heroic character.
Anyways, Lennox and Fig arrive back at Soccent Operations Center and we meet the rest of the Army team there on the tarmac – SARGEANT FIRST CLASS DONNELLY (Irish-American), and STAFF SARGEANT EPPS (the Tyrese Gibson character). We also meet an Arab boy MAHFOUZ.
I personally have a bone to pick with Tyrese who ignorantly said last month in the trades that Latinos can’t write urban movies. You see Tyrese sold a spec script, TO EACH HIS OWN to Screen Gems with him attached to star and produce. Guess what folks, Tyrese didn’t write it, he paid a Latino writer a measly $5000 to write it and then Tyrese polished it up a bit and sold it as if he wrote it himself. Now the whole world knows the real truth. Tyrese, go write a script completely on your own then talk that smack about Latinos. You screw with the Latinos, we are gonna screw with you. Dumb ass.
Back to the Transformers…
Inside the operations center, a bogey appears on radar. Two f-22’s go and intercept the bogey. The bogey, a massive MH-53 helicopter appears over the dunes. The f-22 gives the bogey a warning and then escorts it back to base. There seems to be a mistake because that chopper was shot down 3 months ago. Something is not right with the Soccent Watch Commander. There has got to be a mistake. At the loading bay, the bogey lets out a loud shriek, disables all the radar and computers, transforms into the Decepticon VORTEX and attacks the base! It vaporizes a row of c-17 cargo planes! All the planes hangars are destroyed in the blast! Vortex rips the roof off of the JOC JOINT OPERATIONS CENTER and attempts to hack into the cray computers and tries to download a file:
PROJECT: ICE MAN: ABOVE TOP SECRET: SECTION SEVEN ACCESS ONLY. We see the alien transformer code. A techie takes an axe and cuts the hard line; the cable explodes, cutting off Vortex’s connection. Pissed off Vortex obliterates everyone. The op-center explodes in a thousand directions. Vortex stomps down and crushes a vehicle King Kong style! Complete chaos at the base. Skorponok disengages from Vortex’s back and goes on the hunt for Lennox, Epps, Fig, Donnelly and the other soldiers!
And that is just the 1st 10 pages folks! Action packed! The rest of the script is just as tight. The 3rd act is wall to wall action! A Transformer fan’s dream!
Some other 1st act story details:
- After the blockbuster opening we meet SAM WITWICKY at Tranquility high school, the unfortunate yet adorable dork that he is, his love interest MIKALELA BARNES, her ******* boyfriend TRENT DEMARCO. We also meet Sam’s Chihuahua MOJO.
- Sam’s father RON picks him up after school and they meet up with a shady car dealer BOBBY BOLIVIA. Since Ron got 3 A’s, his dad got four grand to buy Sam a car. Sam ends up buying a 75 Camaro, which we by now all know is BUMBLEBEE. The Autobot emblem is on the steering wheel.
- Later we meet MAGGIE MARCONI, 28 and GLEN WHITTMAN (Michael Clarke Duncan) who work at a Washington think tank the Rand Corporation. Glen’s character is funny as **** in this.
- Maggie gets taken to the Pentagon by agents and gets recruited by JOHN KELLER, the secretary of defense (John Voight), since she is a signal analyst to make sense of the signal and shriek that hit Qatar.
- And in a super cool sequence towards the end of Act 1, SOUNDWAVE is aboard AIR FORCE ONE! A Decepticon aboard the same plane as the President!
For now that is all I’m gonna say. The script is definitely MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.
We also get to see the Transformers in their mechanoid states and see how they select their disguises or the vehicles they transform in and out. Like Bay said, we see how the military responds to a situation like Transformers. The chase sequence is off the chain. The battles are super cool, and there are some funny ass moments in this, like I said an A+…
Transformers is gonna be so huge and there is so much ground to cover that I may do a part 2 to this script review. Most likely not though, I’m not interested in giving the whole thing away. For sure, you guys are going to hear plenty in the next year leading up to the films release. I wonder what they are gonna show at this year’s Comic Con. But as it stands, I think I said enough to further wet the appetite of fans. For the most part, this thing is gonna earn serious Colombian Cartel cash and make at least a half a billion bucks theatrically next year.
So until the next episode…

[blind_fury]

So Soundwave is dwarf, Bumblebee is a Camaro, and instead of the matrix we get the "energon cube" which just happens to land on Earth? I get the feeling that the writers just don't "get" the Transformers.

BTW - That script reviewer is a PLANT! He obviously got paid to praise everything. Even the worst parts.

[TheCardPlayer]

So Soundwave is dwarf, Bumblebee is a Camaro, and instead of the matrix we get the "energon cube" which just happens to land on Earth? I get the feeling that the writers just don't "get" the Transformers.

BTW - That script reviewer is a PLANT! He obviously got paid to praise everything. Even the worst parts. :down:o

This movie will own our ****ing asses.

[boywonder13]

WOW! SWEET! Filming starts this month doesn it! NICE!

[DraXXXen]

So Soundwave is dwarf, Bumblebee is a Camaro, and instead of the matrix we get the "energon cube" which just happens to land on Earth? I get the feeling that the writers just don't "get" the Transformers.

BTW - That script reviewer is a PLANT! He obviously got paid to praise everything. Even the worst parts.

It's not the writters fault regarding bumblebee, it was the car company's call not to allow the use of the actual VW, Tough luck is all.

As for Soundwave, there is no way in hell an audience would belive a small boombox (which is what he is closer to this time) would turn into a 13 foot tall multi-ton robot, and don't bring up the 'subspace storage for extra parts/weight difference' argument, even to a die hard fan like myself it sounds utterly hard to belive, so imagin how regular audience members would take it. Besides, we need some decepticons on a smaller scale to interact with the humans in a more stealth like co-vert fashion (kinda hard to sneak around if your either a tank or a tall robot). I'm all for having suspension of disbelife, but there is a line to be drawn for the sake of the movie.

While I too take the review with a grain of salt, this is latinoreview.com and the have a really good history with script reviews that turned up accurate.

[CFlash]

It's tough to judge such an objective, well written, and mature review.. *cough*

So far, other than "names" it sounds NOTHING like the Transformers I know. They should call it "Armageddon - Rise of The Machines"

P.S. I'm Puerto Rican... with a Dominican stepfather... I don't know any Dominicans from the Bayou either.

[blind_fury]

As for Soundwave, there is no way in hell an audience would belive a small boombox (which is what he is closer to this time) would turn into a 13 foot tall multi-ton robot, and don't bring up the 'subspace storage for extra parts/weight difference' argument, even to a die hard fan like myself it sounds utterly hard to belive, so imagin how regular audience members would take it. Besides, we need some decepticons on a smaller scale to interact with the humans in a more stealth like co-vert fashion (kinda hard to sneak around if your either a tank or a tall robot). I'm all for having suspension of disbelife, but there is a line to be drawn for the sake of the movie.

I don't buy all that crap about a giant casset player and tapes being unacceptable for todays audience. Humans rarely use Soundwave. He was mostly used for Decepticon use only. Sure tight wads would complain about a gaint tape player but 90 percent of the audience will flip out when the see/hear Soundwave eject Laserbeak, Ravage, and Rumble. Those are some awesome characters to simply throw to the wasteside.

Nobody is going to boycott a Transformers movie just because one robot was a giant casset player. I mean c'mon!

[DraXXXen]

I'm all for them going as close the the original G1 series as possible, but some changes I can totally understand. The soundwave size issue is a grey area for me that wont really decide on until seeing it, however one thing does bug me right now....what size would ravange be?? he was panther sized perfectly when soundwave was full sized, so with this current short soundwave we would have a kitten sized ravage (awww...) :)

[blind_fury]

NO I'm for a FULL-SIZED Soundwave with no mass shifting. Rumble would be human sized and Ravage would be the size of an actual panther.

A dwarf soundwave is a disgrace. and omitting the casset characters is damn shame too.

[CFlash]

NO I'm for a FULL-SIZED Soundwave with no mass shifting. Rumble would be human sized and Ravage would be the size of an actual panther.
A dwarf soundwave is a disgrace. and omitting the casset characters is damn shame too.

Personally I don't see the big deal with mass-shifting (SW as an MP3 Player and the Minions as SD Cards ;-) ). But, if they can't do it AND make it look cool, then I totally agree with your post.

A midget SoundWave is an incredible slap in the face that IMO is completely synonymous with Godzilla without the ability to nuke things.

[zer00]

Good review. Gives me actual hope.

Where do you guys get midget soundwave from? How do you know he's transformed while on the plane. Could just be...listening. Recording.

[CFlash]

Good review. Gives me actual hope.

Where do you guys get midget soundwave from? How do you know he's transformed while on the plane. Could just be...listening. Recording.

When he lists the characters did you miss this part:
"and my favorite little decepticon – a BOOMBOX that transforms into the 4 ½ foot SOUNDWAVE" No so-called fan would ever call a 4 1/2 foot SoundWave his "favorite little Decepticon." Frenzy, Rumble, perhaps. Not SoundWave.

This is like giving Angel in X-Men feathers all over his body because that's more realistic.

[zer00]

Hey there was a time when we thought SW was a helicopter:o

[Hunter Rider]

I liked the sounds of that script a lot,I like the addition of the military and the action sounds fun
As far as names go im not to bothered as long as Optimus and Megatron keep their's

[ShadowBoxing]

I should note the Energon Cube is due to an unfortunate licencing dispute with The Matrix Trilogy....Apparently they did not want the Transformers using "the Matrix" in their movie. I would have called it "the Allspark" instead.

[blind_fury]

what about instead of "the matrix" call is "the perfect eqation" or "the final equation".

[halfapple]

I hope Optimus is not just Blue and Silver (blah)

Need the Red - Red and White (please) its classic Optimus how we know him best.

[CFlash]

I should note the Energon Cube is due to an unfortunate licencing dispute with The Matrix Trilogy....Apparently they did not want the Transformers using "the Matrix" in their movie. I would have called it "the Allspark" instead.

Or how about the "Ark of the Convenant" or "The Holy Grail"
Same story isn't it? Who are these writers again?
My god this movie is shaping up to be stupid.

How hard is it to read Transformers #1-4 and come up with some SEMBLANCE of a story based on that?

[Dope Nose]

I hope Optimus is not just Blue and Silver (blah)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kk_i1sKUmI&search=transformers

[deathshead2]

Im really scared cus Bay will more than likely get big name actors to voice Prime and Megs and it will sound horrible I know it.:( But soundwave on air force one sounds cool the blowing up the base sounds also very cool and can't wait to see them get to chose there alt modes. Really hope they get the voice actors from the show if they can't do that then get some people who sound like them. No big name actor Nic cage and tom cruise would be really bad.

[deathshead2]

Or how about the "Ark of the Convenant" or "The Holy Grail"
Same story isn't it? Who are these writers again?
My god this movie is shaping up to be stupid.

How hard is it to read Transformers #1-4 and come up with some SEMBLANCE of a story based on that?I think the cat women guy wrote the first draft and the MI3 guys did this one.

[Dope Nose]

Im really scared cus Bay will more than likely get big name actors to voice Prime and Megs...

if so they should get Lawrence Fishburne for Prime.

[deathshead2]

if so they should get Lawrence Fishburne for Prime.:( :mad: No only 2 men could voice prime. The G1 voice actor or the guy from beast wars who would also be very good.

[ShadowBoxing]

what about instead of "the matrix" call is "the perfect eqation" or "the final equation".Allspark though is another name for the Matrix in Transformers lore. They could also call it Vector Sigma, though I'd save that for the sequal.

Or how about the "Ark of the Convenant" or "The Holy Grail"
Same story isn't it? Who are these writers again?
My god this movie is shaping up to be stupid.

How hard is it to read Transformers #1-4 and come up with some SEMBLANCE of a story based on that?

Being that time and again its been stated this is not G1 nor an adaptation of G1, I think we should all move passed this infantile complaints about how they did not just take the old cartoon/comic and superimpose humans into it. These ideas are intriguing and new and different. With 20+ alternate versions of Transformers to date, having a problem with a new and different Transformers probably means you never liked them in the first place.

[zer00]

Allspark though is another name for the Matrix in Transformers lore. They could also call it Vector Sigma, though I'd save that for the sequal.



Being that time and again its been stated this is not G1 nor an adaptation of G1, I think we should all move passed this infantile complaints about how they did not just take the old cartoon/comic and superimpose humans into it. These ideas are intriguing and new and different. With 20+ alternate versions of Transformers to date, having a problem with a new and different Transformers probably means you never liked them in the first place.

It's been stated many times this is an adaption of G1

[CFlash]

With 20+ alternate versions of Transformers to date, having a problem with a new and different Transformers probably means you never liked them in the first place.

Um, AFAIK none of which are called just "Transformers"
I won't have the slightest problem with this movie if they called it "Transformers: The Next Generation" or "Transformers: Energon Cube."

[toddly6666]

It's no big deal if the movie messes with the size of someone like Megatron or Soundwave. I never liked in the cartoon that they would switch from a small gun or tape recorder to huge robots. It never made sense. And it never made sense as the toys too. Megatron and Soundwave were my favorite characters as well as my favorite toys, but they just were awkward playing with the other toys. It's not such a big deal as a kid, but I remember still being aware of the awkward size differences. It's at the same level of awkwardness of a 12 inch G.I. Joe playing with the 4 inch figures.

So if Soundwave is small, so what. He'll still kick ass and especially if they stick to the same voice. If you have Decepticons the size of humans, then that means the robots can actually have hand to hand fights with the humans. Everyone knows that Soundwave was the coolest and smoothest of the Decepticons - he's at the level of Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Zartan from GI JOE or Wolverine from X-Men.

Has there ever been a mechanical fluid robot fight verses human. The only one I can think of is from the first Terminator at the end. But the Terminator as the robot (not as Arnie) was so stiff. I think it will be awesome if they have human-sized decepticons...

[CFlash]

Todly6666 you make a good point. A human vs TF fight would be cool.
And I also understand why some people can't *imagine* a size changing robot (personally, I can... and I think it can be made to look cool if they tried).

But, I'd rather the "mini-Decept" be named "Frenzy" or "Rumble" or something NOT SoundWave. SoundWave *IS* huge. I'd rather he not transform at all rather than have him be a dwarf. It just doesn't seem right.

[WalkingDead]

So if Soundwave is small, so what. He'll still kick ass and especially if they stick to the same voice. If you have Decepticons the size of humans, then that means the robots can actually have hand to hand fights with the humans. Everyone knows that Soundwave was the coolest and smoothest of the Decepticons - he's at the level of Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Zartan from GI JOE or Wolverine from X-Men.

Has there ever been a mechanical fluid robot fight verses human. The only one I can think of is from the first Terminator at the end. But the Terminator as the robot (not as Arnie) was so stiff. I think it will be awesome if they have human-sized decepticons...

Too bad according to the "leaked script" that Soundwave gets his head literally kicked off by the valley girl that the main character is in love with. Some great badass there...he's so fragile a girl just kicks his head off. Soundwave is becoming comic relief...

Sorry, not tryign to be a jerk directly towards you...just that it kinda ticks me off...lol.

[zer00]

Todly6666 you make a good point. A human vs TF fight would be cool.
And I also understand why some people can't *imagine* a size changing robot (personally, I can... and I think it can be made to look cool if they tried).

But, I'd rather the "mini-Decept" be named "Frenzy" or "Rumble" or something NOT SoundWave. SoundWave *IS* huge. I'd rather he not transform at all rather than have him be a dwarf. It just doesn't seem right.

Survellince van:up:

[CFlash]

Survellince van:up:

AWAC Communications/Surveillance Plane. :up:
It would be more fitting as the Decepts are (suppossed to be) flying and/or military machines.

http://www.ecompbiz.com/images/awak.jpg
http://www.ecompbiz.com/images/awak.jpg

[CFlash]

:( :mad: No only 2 men could voice prime. The G1 voice actor or the guy from beast wars who would also be very good.

I've always thought, Lance Henriksen, the guy from Millenium and who played Bishop in Aliens, sounded a lot like Optimus Prime.

I gotta admit that while I'm a bit of a stickler for some of the *story* elements of Transformers (G1), I'm not really onboard with the whole Cullen and Welker thing. That would make the movie a bit TOO MUCH like the cartoon. But I see where a lot of the fans are coming from. I just think it's way more important that they get the central *story* elements and character personalities right. Just my 2c.

[gkokujin]

I have no problem whatso ever with them shrinking and growing.

all you idjits saying "it wont make sense" are freaking retards.


ITS A MOVIE ABOUT GIANT ROBOTS THAT THINK LIVE AND FEEL.

who is to say that their concept of matter is the same as humans.

on top of that....



ITS ALL MAKE BELIEVE, it DOESNT MATTER!!!!

[CFlash]

I have no problem whatso ever with them shrinking and growing.
all you idjits saying "it wont make sense" are freaking retards.
ITS A MOVIE ABOUT GIANT ROBOTS THAT THINK LIVE AND FEEL.
who is to say that their concept of matter is the same as humans.
on top of that....
ITS ALL MAKE BELIEVE, it DOESNT MATTER!!!!

I agree with that. It's that same lack of imagination that led to the castrated U.S. Godzilla... and we all know how well that did.

[Arcturus]

Wow! This sounds awesome, can't wait to see it in the theatres!

:up:

[sithgoblin]

Why the f**k is Ironhide a pickup truck? He's a red van dammit!

[deathshead2]

I agree with that. It's that same lack of imagination that led to the castrated U.S. Godzilla... and we all know how well that did.:o I see your one of the groups of people who don't know the concept of a remake where you change things from the source matrieal. Also the US godzilla made money.

[deathshead2]

I have no idea why people can;t see the transformers mass shifting they are huge robot aliens. If they can make a movie about aliens inpregnating people and they don't question it or people turning invisble why can't they think robot aliens can mass shift.

[skorponok]

Why the f**k is Ironhide a pickup truck? He's a red van dammit!


If he has a similar personality to the comic/cartoon incarnation, then I think a truck makes more sense.

[ShadowBoxing]

Um, AFAIK none of which are called just "Transformers"
I won't have the slightest problem with this movie if they called it "Transformers: The Next Generation" or "Transformers: Energon Cube."Then you're in luck the full title last I hear was Transformers: Their War, Our World.

[ShadowBoxing]

It's been stated many times this is an adaption of G1No, actually only a AICN writer said it would be misquoting DeSanto who said he was watching the show for inspiration. It's a fan generated myth. In fact in a recent interview...

To refresh your memories- I started this so I could learn if there was a consensus among fans as to what HAD to be in a Transformers film. I have. The only consensus is Cullen and Welker. Otherwise, no one is in agreement on anything- including Arcee.

Some of you have treated this as a promise that if you ask for it, you will get it. Well, it never was. Some of you acted that way- well that's YOUR problem not mine.

Indeed, despite my best efforts, I expect every single one of you to be annoyed about something in the film.

You know why?

Because we are making a new Transformers. Live action for the first time. With lots of humans. Using the mythology you love and all, yes. But not slavish to it.

I've told you that from Day One. You didn't want to hear me. Again I am sorry, that's YOUR problem.

Sorry Zer00 you are quiet mistaken.

[CFlash]

:o I see your one of the groups of people who don't know the concept of a remake where you change things from the source matrieal. Also the US godzilla made money.

I made that comment in regards to mass-shifting... which I thought you agreed with(?). In any case, Godzilla barely made its production budget in its U.S. run. It broke just even. That's considered a flop. In the foreign market it made more money but barely enough to cover both the U.S. and foreign marketing costs.

In the end, it was indeed considered a flop. Not a huge flop like say the "The Island", but a flop nonetheless.

[CFlash]

Then you're in luck the full title last I hear was Transformers: Their War, Our World.

That's a *tag line* like "They're here" or "Be Afraid, be very afraid"
Not a title.

[WalkingDead]

Personally I think that the Decepticon Helicopter will be Soundwave before it's over and the "Soundwave" on Air Force One is Rumble or Frenzy or Someone-the-Like. I think "Vortex" or "Incinerator" is just a codename like Micheal Bay said when referring to Devastator.

Here is why I think like this:
Helicopter uses a loud "screech" sound effect to take out the radar, it also taps into the computer systems, and it has a minion in "Scorponok". All of that points to the Copter really being Soundwave, just they are using an alias for now.

If I'm wrong, so be it...but I seriously hope I'm right.

[CFlash]

No, actually only a AICN writer said it would be misquoting DeSanto who said he was watching the show for inspiration. It's a fan generated myth. In fact in a recent interview...

Don Murphy: To refresh your memories- I started this so I could learn if there was a consensus among fans as to what HAD to be in a Transformers film. I have. The only consensus is Cullen and Welker. Otherwise, no one is in agreement on anything- including Arcee.


Sorry Zer00 you are quiet mistaken.

Personally, I can't believe Don Murphy's statement is correct in the real world. But, judging by the chaos over at his messge boards-- both intentionally fed by a few including himself and just harmless continuity quips amongs fans-- I can see why he would say that.

Frankly, Don Murphy's board is extremely chaotic. It makes the fanbase look silly and laughable. People that agree actually knock each other's posts in really venemous and childish ways... even though they agree! But because it was worded wrong or not deferential enough to the producer or some other poster or whatever. It's a mess over there... and way combative and childish to boot.

Don't even get me started on the fake and manipulated posts. Yes, that's right.... not all is what it seems over at Don Murphy's boards. Believe you me.

[blind_fury]

Then you're in luck the full title last I hear was Transformers: Their War, Our World.
That's a retarded title.

[WalkingDead]

That's a retarded title.

That's NOT the title...
The title is:
TRANSFORMERS

On the so-called script, the title is:
PRIME DIRECTIVE

Some people suggest the full title will be:
TRANSFORMERS: PRIME DIRECTIVE


I wouldn't expect anything other than TRANSFORMERS as the title with "Their War, Our World" as the tagline underneath it somewhere.

[gkokujin]

No, actually only a AICN writer said it would be misquoting DeSanto who said he was watching the show for inspiration. It's a fan generated myth. In fact in a recent interview...



Sorry Zer00 you are quiet mistaken.

this makes me sad. :(





lol

[Kurt Wagner]

Script review??? A lot of it was bs praising of the stuff nothing to do with the script.

[Cinemaman]

Script sound really intersting.

[Lobo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kk_i1sKUmI&search=transformers


Is that real or fan made?

[WalkingDead]

Script review??? A lot of it was bs praising of the stuff nothing to do with the script.
Noticed that too huh?

Don't get me wrong, I like the opening Helicopter attack sequence and all, but still.

[deathshead2]

Is that real or fan made?Fan made I think.

[Movies205]

Man I hate Latino Review's Script Reviews, there so BAD. I didn't get anything out of that review except for "OMG THIS IS AMAZING BLAH BLAH" I mean for most of it he rambles about what a big fan he is and his childhood, and then about how he loves bay, and a lot of times he just addressing the fans he doesn't talk really much about the script at all. And then I just stop reading when he gave summaries of the script, they are so bad at script reviews... Hopefully Stax at IGN gets his hands on a copy of the script. As for the changes, I could give a **** as long as I see robot fight action. Seriously, we have the cartoon so if they want change stuff be my guest as long as it's good and stay true to the theme. Chaning Soundwave to 4 1/2 feet doesn't change the theme so I don't care as long as they make it work.

[blind_fury]

Huh? Shrinking Soundwave to 4 feet doesn't change the theme?

Soundwave is beast-master of sorts and a cunning Megatron loyalist. Turning him into midget or comic relief DOES change the theme. Why don't they make Frenzy or Rumble the little ones and keep Soundwave 30-feet tall?

[Hunter Rider]

Huh? Shrinking Soundwave to 4 feet doesn't change the theme?

Soundwave is beast-master of sorts and a cunning Megatron loyalist. Turning him into midget or comic relief DOES change the theme. Why don't they make Frenzy or Rumble the little ones and keep Soundwave 30-feet tall?

It's a change of character but not theme,the theme even if they changed all their names and sizes is still Machines fighting a war on our planet with us stuck in the middle,and the Autobots respect human life and Decepticons don't

[CFlash]

It's a change of character but not theme,the theme even if they changed all their names and sizes is still Machines fighting a war on our planet with us stuck in the middle,and the Autobots respect human life and Decepticons don't

If that's the case they can easily call the movie "Gobots," or "Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive II", or "Robotron vs. Mechwarrior." Michael Bay making Soundwave 4 feet tall would be like Bryan Singer making Wolverine a 30 foot Amazonian woman.

Sam Raimi and Bryan Singer have shown everyone how you can take "uncanny" and slightly corny (to non-comic fans) source material, *adapt* it, make it cool for the big-screen, and remain truthful and respectful to the source. Michael Bay doesn't seem to have learned any of those lessons.

[Hunter Rider]

If that's the case they can easily call the movie "Gobots," or "Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive II", or "Robotron vs. Mechwarrior." Michael Bay making Soundwave 4 feet tall would be like Bryan Singer making Wolverine a 30 foot Amazonian woman.

Sam Raimi and Bryan Singer have shown everyone how you can take "uncanny" and slightly corny (to non-comic fans) source material, *adapt* it, make it cool for the big-screen, and remain truthful and respectful to the source. Michael Bay doesn't seem to have learned any of those lessons.

How do you know this Soundwave isn't going to be cool onscreen ?

That however was not my point,you're talking about character changes not theme changes,a theme is the concept of the story not those partaking in it and using wolverine was a bad idea given how many fans thought a 6'2 handsome matinee idol was ridiculous for a character who is a grizzled 5'3 runt with a weathered face

[deathshead2]

Huh? Shrinking Soundwave to 4 feet doesn't change the theme?

Soundwave is beast-master of sorts and a cunning Megatron loyalist. Turning him into midget or comic relief DOES change the theme. Why don't they make Frenzy or Rumble the little ones and keep Soundwave 30-feet tall?Because dumb fans say oh nos mass shifting isn't possible bla bla bla. So Bay is going to play it save and listin to the dumb fans.

[chrisguyver]

Didn't bay say that all the names were aliases for all we know that 4ft bot could be frenzy and the helicaptor could be the real soundwave. i guess all we can do is just wait and see.

[spideymusprime]

Ok this is off topic guys and I didn't want to create a new thread for it but could you guys tell me how old Peter Cullen and Frank Welker are?

[BigCityBoy]

I don't know why some people had a problem with mass-shifting. It was done in the cartoon and plus this is a Science-Fiction movie about Alien Robots coming to Earth. There's nothing realistic about that premise!

By the way, from the looks of things this appears to be a "Michael Bay" movie instead of a Transformers movie(based on the old cartoons and comics).

[Arcturus]

If the changes bother some of you so much, then just don't go see the film. Now I don't mean to insult anyone, but come on. In a perfect world, we'd get the perfect transformers movie. But perfection is something very hard to get right. I can see alot of people loving the film, I can see alot of people hating the film. Rightfully so, but so be it.

Me? I'm excited about this film, and I can't wait to see anymore development, let alone the actucal film. I'm not bothered by the fact that changes have/are being made. But that in itself, is just my opinion.

[zer00]

I'll just wait till the teaser or full trailer to pass judgement. Frankly even with this review we may or may not still know that much. So just who the **** knows.

It can still go either way right now IMO

[WalkingDead]

Ok this is off topic guys and I didn't want to create a new thread for it but could you guys tell me how old Peter Cullen and Frank Welker are?

I believe Frank Welker is now 61 years old.
And Peter Cullen is in his 50's now.

[skorponok]

Wasn't the short soundwave thing writting out though?

[zanos]

Im really scared cus Bay will more than likely get big name actors to voice Prime and Megs and it will sound horrible I know it.:( But soundwave on air force one sounds cool the blowing up the base sounds also very cool and can't wait to see them get to chose there alt modes. Really hope they get the voice actors from the show if they can't do that then get some people who sound like them. No big name actor Nic cage and tom cruise would be really bad.


Samuel L. Jackson for Prime!!

[WalkingDead]

The Movie Reporter has also got a copy and reviewed the script...here is the LINK:

http://www.iesb.net/dreamworks2006/052106.php


Megatron doesn't appear until 3rd Act, outside some Flashback. And Megs Alt. Mode is: Cybertronian Jet...NO TANK or GUN or CANNON...

[Chris B]

The thing that strikes me as ironic is that the entire scene involving Vortex and the MH-53 helicopter all would have been appropriate for Soundwave. In addition, they could've used Ravage or Laserbeak in place of Scorponok.

[Golgo-13]

'Scorponok' and 'Vortex' suck as far as a choice for Decepticons used in the opening scene. And man that guy (latinoreview) must love hearing himself talk because only 1/5 of his rant was about the script.:rollseye:

Bumblebee as a camaro...i don't care. Don't really like Bumblebee anyway. I would much rather 'Mirage' be the autobot spy.

The opening scene in the Artic sound cool though...we'll see as the news continues to trinkle in...

[Golgo-13]

I

So if Soundwave is small, so what. He'll still kick ass and especially if they stick to the same voice. If you have Decepticons the size of humans, then that means the robots can actually have hand to hand fights with the humans. Everyone knows that Soundwave was the coolest and smoothest of the Decepticons - he's at the level of Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Zartan from GI JOE or Wolverine from X-Men.

.

If Soundwave IS small then there will be a problem. People that are O.king the size change scenerio with Soundwave, will have a bigger problem when 'a small' Soundwave ejects an equal size or minute sized Ravage, and or Rumble. They can't be their cartoon sizes because that's human size and some are saying that it's cool if Soundwave himself is that size. So are you same people saying that Ravage should be the actual size of a panther? If that's the case, he certainly won't fit inside of Soundwave's chest in cassette form if Soundwave is human size, now will he...:confused:

[spideymusprime]

I believe Frank Welker is now 61 years old.
And Peter Cullen is in his 50's now.

Ok thanks WalkingDead

[Hunter Rider]

The Movie Reporter has also got a copy and reviewed the script...here is the LINK:

http://www.iesb.net/dreamworks2006/052106.php


Megatron doesn't appear until 3rd Act, outside some Flashback. And Megs Alt. Mode is: Cybertronian Jet...NO TANK or GUN or CANNON...

First thing Ive heard on this movie that i don't like the sound of:(

[Golgo-13]

I think all the talk about Megatron being a Cybetronian Jet is false-partially. A Cybetronian Jet is not an 'earth disguise'. That's the reason they transform into earth-like mechanism. A Cybertonian jet would stand out like a sore thumb. I can see him however being a Cybetronian Jet before he comes to earth.....

[Hunter Rider]

I think all the talk about Megatron being a Cybetronian Jet is false-partially. A Cybetronian Jet is not an 'earth disguise'. That's the reason they transform into earth-like mechanism. A Cybertonian jet would stand out like a sore thumb. I can see him however being a Cybetronian Jet before he comes to earth.....

I hope your right,i want some Tank vs Mack Truck action:mad:

[blind_fury]

Megatron should be a canon or a mounted rotary gun. Not freakin jet. Wtf are they doing?

[ShadowBoxing]

Megatron should be a canon or a mounted rotary gun. Not freakin jet. Wtf are they doing?It's not like he has been a jet three times before or anything :rolleyes:

[Hunter Rider]

It's not like he has been a jet three times before or anything :rolleyes:

Has he ? I'm not familiar with much TF outside G1
I think a Tank was the best choice as it made him a moving vehicle as opposed to a stationary weapon

[WalkingDead]

I think all the talk about Megatron being a Cybetronian Jet is false-partially. A Cybetronian Jet is not an 'earth disguise'. That's the reason they transform into earth-like mechanism. A Cybertonian jet would stand out like a sore thumb. I can see him however being a Cybetronian Jet before he comes to earth.....

From what I'm assuming...
The reason he's still a Cybertronian Jet is because, like the script reviewer says...he doesn't appear until the 3rd Act. By the time he shows up, he has no need to have an Earth Mode...for whatever reasons. I assume this is because he just finally comes online or he finally gets to Earth personally. So by that point it doesn't make a damn what his mode really is.

[CFlash]

From what I'm assuming...
The reason he's still a Cybertronian Jet is because, like the script reviewer says...he doesn't appear until the 3rd Act. By the time he shows up, he has no need to have an Earth Mode...for whatever reasons. I assume this is because he just finally comes online or he finally gets to Earth personally. So by that point it doesn't make a damn what his mode really is.

That's pretty much Shockwave's story.
Soooo, Shockwave is called Megatron in this movie. And, Cliffjumper is called Bumblebee. Tsk tsk tsk.
Talk about creative license.

[WalkingDead]

That's pretty much Shockwave's story.
Soooo, Shockwave is called Megatron in this movie. And, Cliffjumper is called Bumblebee. Tsk tsk tsk.
Talk about creative license.

In a sense...yes, Megatron with have that "Shockwave motive". This is all, of course, if the script really doesn't change that much from what the reviewer has said.

I don't know about Bumblebee being like Cliffjumper though. Sure he can't have his classic look, but that doesn't mean he can't have BB's presence and characterization. A busted up, needs-work Camero could work just fine, if BB really comes off as BB. Unless of course he runs after Decepticons to "pop them in their turbo-charger" or is an aggressive character in other respects. Then, yes, he's Cliffjumper.

[CFlash]

In a sense...yes, Megatron with have that "Shockwave motive". This is all, of course, if the script really doesn't change that much from what the reviewer has said.

I don't know about Bumblebee being like Cliffjumper though. Sure he can't have his classic look, but that doesn't mean he can't have BB's presence and characterization. A busted up, needs-work Camero could work just fine, if BB really comes off as BB. Unless of course he runs after Decepticons to "pop them in their turbo-charger" or is an aggressive character in other respects. Then, yes, he's Cliffjumper.

Part of BB's charm was that he was NOT a hot-rod car. Beat up or otherwise. I'm sure that by the end of the flick he'll be shiny and pristine... just in time for Spike to "win the race and get the girl." Frankly I'd be happy with any hatchback car... even the sporty modern ones- Mini Cooper would make a perfect Bumblebee. Just not a muscle-car like a Camaro.

Cliffjumper was the speedster (a spider roadster... Mazda I think, but frankly any spider would do).

[WalkingDead]

Part of BB's charm was that he was NOT a hot-rod car. Beat up or otherwise. I'm sure that by the end of the flick he'll be shiny and pristine... just in time for Spike to "win the race and get the girl." Frankly I'd be happy with any hatchback car... even the sporty modern ones- Mini Cooper would make a perfect Bumblebee. Just not a muscle-car like a Camaro.

Cliffjumper was the speedster (a spider roadster... Mazda I think, but frankly any spider would do).

Cliffjumper was a Porsche 924 Turbo...just modded to have the look of the 'Mini-bots'.

But my point was in BB's personality more so than anything. But I agree I'd want him as a Mini Cooper is he couldn't get the VW Beetle.

[CFlash]

Cliffjumper was a Porsche 924 Turbo...just modded to have the look of the 'Mini-bots'.

Yur right. Same difference. ;-)
It enforces the point even more that BB wasn't a hot-rod... his minibot counterpart was.

But my point was in BB's personality more so than anything. But I agree I'd want him as a Mini Cooper is he couldn't get the VW Beetle.

Mini Cooper would be downright awesome! But, there are so many possibilities nowadays (Mitsubishi Lancer comes to mind... but there are many other hatchback and/or compacts as well).